Home Rubber Company MuralThe Trenton Mural Arts Project unveiled the design for its first mural on several buildings owned by the Home Rubber Company Mural during a ceremony at Artworks in Trenton on Monday, March 28, 2011.

Just in time for spring, two initiatives are getting under way to present the city in the best possible light as a more colorful and cleaner place.

As it celebrates the past, the mural also features some present-day industry, such as the machinery still in daily use at the Home Rubber Co. It’s very much an expression of the contemporary community. Residents were asked to contribute their ideas for its design, and they will help realize the painting when artist Philip Adams gets to work on the massive canvas of the building.

With the community’s help — and a small band of assistants — Adams hopes to complete the mural by its dedication date, June 4. Once finished, it will be visible from both Route 129 and the River Line rail that runs next to the rubber company.

Meanwhile, City Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward has been in touch with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter for pointers on launching a cleanup in Trenton. In several events this month, organizers hope to enlist community support to pick up trash and spruce up the surroundings.
Holly-Ward, who made a city cleanup part of her campaign for a council seat, says she wants Trenton to collaborate with Philadelphia because of the success that city has had with its “Unlitter Us” program.

Organizers of both initiatives hope they will trigger more murals and a tidiness trend. That’s been the case in Philadelphia, where more than 30,000 murals have become enduring tourist attractions. And Nutter’s annual spring cleanup encourages thousands of volunteers to take to the streets with trash bags and brooms.

Both the Trenton Mural Arts Project and the city’s version of the anti-litter campaign wisely tapped into successful, ongoing programs rather than starting from the ground up.
Repurposing working models according to Trenton’s needs is an excellent example of the efficiency that is so necessary in a time of limited resources.

While murals and trash-free lawns won’t relieve the city’s dire financial straits or solve its other pressing problems, they do represent a positive change. They’re touchstones of community pride, a pride that is often contagious.

Spring has a way of bringing out that uplifting energy. We believe both of these projects will do the same.